Hunger Games General Thread

I read the entirety of the Trilogy over the past week. It was a good read. Overall, I'd say the first book was my favorite of the three. I actually appreciate that the films actually made Katniss more of a Reluctant Hero.

How is she more? She seem plenty reluctant in the books.

In Catching Fire she was quick to make up her mind in becoming a Martyr during the games for the Rebellion.

I stumbled on the soundtrack while looking for Stromae material.

Holy shit this is good. Like, real damn good. Those lyrics are actually lyrical and shit.

edited 31st May '15 2:50:57 PM by TheHandle

I have to said that I didnt like the idea of reading this books, after twilight I didnt have much faith in teen novels but this time I was wrong.

I have to said: why is everyone saying about a romantic plot tumor? one of thing I like is how subtle it is, Katniss didnt know her feelins because of paranoina, not just "I dont know myself" while both Gale and Peeta are really nice guys who want the best for her.

now, for the world bulding is that she did just the right mount, we now the capitol like to put district one against the another and make it entretain value, the battle in the city was awsome.

And for last, I really enjoy that Katniss didnt because a uber-badass who crump stomp his problems, it show that even if she is the protagonist, she is just a gear in the war, and one who have little value for itself

I only saw the movies, but yeah, the romance part was rather subtle. It was more about friendship, none of the nonsense that was Twilight.

Katniss was a rather sensible main character, not having the nerve for romantic trouble in that setting.

'''Are you, are you

comin' to the tree?

Where they strung up a man

they say who murdered three?

Strange things did happen here

no stranger would it be

if we met up at midnight

in the hanging tree... '''

__ You said song lyrics, gives me an excuse to post the first part of the song of revolution remembered by heart.

Those lyrics were actually in the Mockingjay book before they were given a rhythm.

edited 20th Jul '15 6:30:49 PM by Shadsie

Lorde FTW. Ya-ya-ya!

sensible? Maybe, I saw katniss as mind focus and sometímes clearly overthink people because of her suspision,its clear she dosent get the feeling both peeta and gale have for her.

The movies toned it down from the books, improving on that part of the series just like they've done with almost everything else in Catching Fire and Mockingjay Pt 1.

I do like the book series, but it could've been a lot better. Mockingjay in particular wasn't nearly long enough to convey everything that happened with any sort of meaning. I actually preferred Collins' other series, the Underland Chronicles, though that's meant for a slightly younger audience than the Hunger Games is.

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I'm writing a Hunger Games fanfic, centering on members of the Capitol elite. My protagonist is going to be the daughter of an influential businessman. Here's where I have a problem: In the book the industries in Panem, or at least the important ones, seem to be controlled by the Capitol. So does my story contradict that?

...without getting more details from your story, if your character is the daughter of an elite businessman from the Capitol and the Capitol controls all prominent businesses, i don't see how that conflicts?

Looks like there's a prequel novel being released next year.

And it's been revealed that the prequel - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - is gonna focus on President Snow back when he was a teenager.

So the book just came out last week. The fandom seems to have mixed feelings on it but as someone who just finished reading it, I think I'm willing to consider it the best of the series. Gives us insight into how the Hunger Games became the Hunger Games as we know them and while it humanizes Snow it doesn't make him someone we want to succeed/doesn't make him likable. I'd definitely recommend picking it up if you were on the fence about it. Just don't go in expecting a lot of action because while there is some, that isn't the point of this book.

Edited by Chariot on May 28th 2020 at 8:48:19 AM

I have to say, I'm one of the people with mixed feelings on it.

I think it does an okay job at its goal, which is to give insight into Snow's character and how he got where he is. However, I do think that what we're given is moderately more shallow than I'd expect from a book that's supposed to be focused on his motivations. We learn right away that he's high-status but poor, and that he's ambitious and calculating. What else do we get? Well, not much. We learn that Snow grapples internally with the Capitol's cruelty, and that he supports control because he's felt powerless in his life. Those are all very cool character traits, but for the most part, we learn about them through isolated incidents, and they don't really evolve over the course of the story.

To be honest, the two things I liked most about the original trilogy were the well-explored philosophical themes and the entertaining narrative. This book tries to keep up in both areas, but it pales in comparison to the originals.

In the original trilogy, we see the effects of the struggle between the Capitol and the Districts for ourselves — both inside the arena and outside of it — and we can draw our own conclusions about the psychological effects of war on individuals and populations, and about the benefits and costs of control. In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the vast majority of thematic development either occurs in the arena — which doesn't provide too much more insight than what we see of the 74th and 75th games — or through conversations and school projects undertaken by the mentors. I think actions speak louder than words, and I think, say, the fallout of Gale's plan to bomb the Capitol children and medics is a more interesting way to explore how far one should go when defending a good cause than Coriolanus's assigned essay on the benefits of war.

As for the narrative, I'm willing to give the prequel some credit. Seeing the games in their original state was exciting and fresh (although their outcome was a Foregone Conclusion). I was slightly disappointed with Lucy Gray's ending, but right until she ran away I was invested in the story. There were a few stretches where I wasn't as invested — the preparations for the games were really only interesting when Coriolanus was strategizing or talking to Lucy Gray — but for the most part, I enjoyed it.

Where the book really excelled, I think, was its atmosphere. The descriptions of the devastated post-war Capitol and the empty life Coriolanus was forced to lead were chilling. I think having the games be more exposed for what they were and showing how uncomfortable everyone (including the mentors and their creator) was with their brutality was an excellent choice, and provides nice contrast with the original trilogy. I could go on about specific scenes that set perfect moods, but my favourite had to be Coriolanus running through the forest after Lucy Gray while the mockingjays overwhelmed him with her song.

Anyways, decent book, worth a read, just not as good as the originals.

(Adding on one more thing — loved the songs. The origin of The Hanging Tree and the use of The Ballad of Lucy Gray were brilliant.)

Edited by indigoJay on May 28th 2020 at 8:35:55 AM

What's with Literature.The Hunger Games? Is that for the series, or the first book, since it seems like the book itself doesn't have a page?

Yeah, I think it should be divided into separate folders for the Book Versus Series.

Got Audible recently and listening to Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes at double speed right now. Trying to find the time to hit a stride and then get at least halfway through the book. Only a little more than 70 pages in at this time as is—or like 80 pages at that time and now 99 though at this point.

Can't Catch Me Now made the Short List for Song! That is HUGE!

EDIT 1/25: SIGH. Snubbed again…

Edited by futuremoviewriter on Jan 24th 2024 at 11:15:39 AM